THE longstanding feud between the Scottish Rugby Union and Gala RFC over who should shoulder the financial burden of maintaining the Netherdale pitch appears to have been resolved at last, with the announcement from Murrayfield yesterday that a "mutually satisfactory arrangement has been reached over the 20-year lease agreement into which the two had previously entered".
The issue had caused a dispute between the club and the governing body. A lease agreement was drawn up in 2002 when the ground was expected to be the long-term home of the Border Reivers professional team, but the SRU wanted the deal cancelled when
that club was disbanded in 2007. Gala opposed this because it left them with a facility which was costly to maintain and would stretch the club's resources, leading to the ridiculous situation where the SRU were paying £51,000 a year in rent and maintenance for a ground which they refused to use for representative matches.
After a year-long break in dialogue, the two parties returned to the negotiating table this summer, and news in October that the Scotland A v Tonga match will be played at Netherdale this month suggested conciliation.
Yesterday's SRU press release was sparse on detail, revealing only: "The arrangement is confidential but it reflects the requirements to prepare and nurture a first-class pitch, including undersoil heating. Gala will assume responsibility for the maintenance of the Netherdale pitch and the undersoil heating system. The pitch will be available to Scottish Rugby for certain representative matches."
Although the undersoil heating, which has been out of use because the SRU refused to pay for its upkeep, has now been fixed, the cost of running it means it is unlikely Gala will be able to make use of this luxury.
Last night neither the club nor the governing body were prepared to discuss the agreement.
